“Of course, Greg. How are you two?” She came around, and I saw she was pregnant. She gave each of them a hug. “These two helped my husband and I get this place started!”
I felt a warmth inside me. Oh no. I was really attracted to these two. I barely knew them, and they seemed like cold corporate types most of the time. But there was something about them. And how could I be attracted to both of them?
“So Raymond will be back to work part-time within six weeks and possibly full-time after that. We offered him retirement, but he did not like that idea.” Greg leaned back after finishing his steak.
I nodded. “Some people always like to be busy. I suspect you two are like that.”
Burris flashed a grin, and I felt that warmth again. Neither man smiled much, and I was happy to start seeing it more and more as we talked.
“I go fishing sometimes,” he said, his deep voice carrying even across the noise of the festival outside the mini private patio.
“Do they usually have a private patio?” I had a feeling this was a special request.
“No.” Greg held my gaze.
I felt myself blushing. I couldn’t remember the last time this had happened since high school. “Listen, I really appreciate this, but no thanks were necessary. I went into this field because I like to help people.”
“You did more than help,” Greg said. “You reached into his wound and held his artery together as blood covered you.”
I looked down, unable to look at him anymore. “I’d hardly be much of a paramedic if I was scared from some blood.”
“Were you planning on applying for a job here?” Burris seemed to know I wanted a subject change.
“I wasn’t. I came to visit Carolina, and I’ve been applying all over Knoxville and the suburbs there.”
“We have a first rate hospital and rescue operation here.” Greg clearly didn’t do small talk well.
I nodded. “I’m sure you do. I think I’d always pictured myself in more of a city environment.”
“Is the job hunt going well?” Burris was glaring at Greg.
Looking at them, I wouldn’t have known they were brothers. But then, hearing them talk, I could hear it. I laughed and they both kind of glared at me, which made me laugh more.
“You two are kind of like Carolina and me,” I said. “Tell me about how you two came to run the company. You two kind of run the town, from what I hear.”
“Greg won a design contest when he was 12,” Burris said. “Contemporary wooden furniture, which is a bit of an oxymoron.”
“That was 4-H, and my dad made me enter. I think I won because I didn’t want to spend a lot of time on it, and made a simple design, but then I got into it. My dad was dating Burris’ mom by the time we were in high school, and we were on the football team together.”
“Of course you were,” I said. “Go on.”
“I had a business helping people with websites after I learned about coding in high school,” Burris said. “Then our parents got married and I started interning at the company while going to college and business school.”
“I wouldn’t say we run the town.” Greg said “But we like to support the town as many people work for us.”
“Like Raymond.”
They nodded at my words. I had another thought. “Was something wrong with his saw?”
They looked at each other for a long moment.
Greg set down his ale. “We are interested in you, Anelya.”
I nearly choked on the mouthful of soda I’d just swallowed. When I had my breath back, I asked. “Both of you?”
“Would that bother you?” Burris was leaning closer, until our arms were almost touching.
“Is this something you’ve done before?” I couldn’t seem to answer in anything other than questions, but each statement brought up more questions.
